Kia is the second-largest automotive manufacturer in South Korea. Kia was formerly known as Kyungsung Precision Industry and was founded in 1944. Before 2017, they were known for manufacturing humble and balanced cars. In 2017, they introduced Kia Stinger to their lineup. Kia Stinger is a combination of a sports sedan and a luxury car. Recently Kia Stinger 2021 came to the market and created hype. This car ranked pretty high in almost every ranking.
The Kia stinger is a medium-size liftback. The designer of this model is Peter Schreyer and Gregory Guillaume. According to the designer, the design is partially inspired by the Coca-Cola bottle. He says, “The new Kia Stinger is a true Gran Turismo, a car for spirited long-distance.” The engineer behind this car is former BMW M Vice President Albert Biermann. In the Korean automotive market, this car has a unique ‘E’ badge which means it is ‘Engineered by Excellence.’
Kia Stinger has a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder Theta II engine. It has an 8-speed automatic mode transmission with a manual mode. This beast can produce 255 horsepower at 6200rpm and 260 pound-feet of torque. Similarly, it can quickly touch from zero to 60mph within only six seconds. The steering is responsive, makes it easy to maneuver and park in tight areas. Besides, it offers four-wheel disc brakes with ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System). The large Brembo brakes and performance-oriented tires can provide excellent grip in all weather conditions.
This Stinger is not about speed; it is all about enjoying the journey. The interior is spacious and premium at the same time. All the latest infotainment systems like a 7inch multifunctional display, wireless charging system, Bluetooth, two USB ports, satellite radio, etc., are available inside the car. All the functions are user-friendly as well. Besides, Kia Stinger has a lot to offer for audiophiles; it has a six-speaker audio system. Higher variations offer 15 speakers tuned by Harman/Kardon.
The driving experience is beyond excellent with balanced handling and snappy engine performance. Blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic readings are excellent in this vehicle. It has a seating capacity of five persons. There are ample headroom and leg space in both rows. The large hatchback cargo area is a bonus for road trips. Moreover, this car has inbuilt support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Currently, Stinger is available in four colors- Panthera metal metallic, aurora black pearl, snow white pearl, and ceramic silver.
On the other hand, the mileage may not satisfy all the customers, i.e., 17-22mpg inside the city and 25-29mpg on highways. Its fuel tank capacity is 15.9 gallons only. However, this mileage can be accepted considering its class and price. It offers the lowest price for a small luxury car. Being a car of $33K, it can be compared with cars like Mercedes Benz C-Class, Audi A4, BMW 3 Series easily.
The Stinger achieved an excellent score in all crashworthiness tests except the headlights.
Moreover, the Stinger has proved its reliability and validity through different tests. Thus, Kia can offer a five-year/60K mile limited warranty and a 10-year/100K mile powertrain warranty with this product.
Finally, this car feels athletic and fun to drive at the same time. This duo is very uncommon in budget segments. Maybe these configurations successfully attracted its target customers, and that is why it becomes a massive hit.
